WIth gongfu steeping, I found Phatty Cake II started sharp, strong and rich – almost abrasive. Each steeping, this tea mellows on you, like it got to know you and is now friendly. Chocolately, woodsy, vanilla, very smooth, mineral notes, and spice.

Preparation

This is really wonderful to read here and on your blog, my friend! I had a session with this on Sunday and was super pleased about it. Whenever I first make a ripe pressing, it takes a few months for things to really start shaking out. There is some curing that needs to happen before they can begin coming of age and this one was no exception. When I first tasted the pressing (about 3 weeks after pressing), I was not so excited. But just as with every other pressing I’ve done, I remind myself that it will change significantly over the first 3 or 4 months.

Reading your take on it, coupled with my Sunday exploration of it, makes me realize that this is a great cake. Not that I don’t trust myself to know whether it is good or not, it’s just nice to have a trusted friend mirror back to me what I was thinking.

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Comments

This is really wonderful to read here and on your blog, my friend! I had a session with this on Sunday and was super pleased about it. Whenever I first make a ripe pressing, it takes a few months for things to really start shaking out. There is some curing that needs to happen before they can begin coming of age and this one was no exception. When I first tasted the pressing (about 3 weeks after pressing), I was not so excited. But just as with every other pressing I’ve done, I remind myself that it will change significantly over the first 3 or 4 months.

Reading your take on it, coupled with my Sunday exploration of it, makes me realize that this is a great cake. Not that I don’t trust myself to know whether it is good or not, it’s just nice to have a trusted friend mirror back to me what I was thinking.

I was raised on floral oolongs and green teas, mostly “beauty” teas. Early on as a kid, I can guzzle an entire pot of tea (or two) at a Chinese or Japanese restaurant.
These days I like adventurous and interesting tea blends. I’m fearless in trying new teas! I’m into oolong, pu’erh, white, green, black, guayusa, mate and herbals. I’m not into red rooibos but I keep buying it anyway.

The tea brand that got me started into loose leaf teas was DAVIDsTea. I used to live in Vancouver Canada and had access to their shop, however that is now limited since I moved to southern California.